Image Credits - AFP
Israel conducted a series of intense airstrikes on Saturday, targeting multiple locations across the region. As the conflict unfolded, the planes of Israel dropped leaflets over the southern area of Rafah, urging displaced Palestinians to assist in locating hostages reportedly held captivated by Hamas.
Israeli forces opted to use unconventional means to communicate with the Palestinian population. Leaflets were scattered over Rafah containing photos of 33 hostages, with their names written in Arabic. The leaflets appealed to displaced Palestinians for assistance, asking them to reach out if they recognized any of the individuals.
“Do you want to return home? Please make the call if you recognize one of them,” the leaflets implored, revealing an attempt to leverage the local population’s knowledge to address the hostage situation.
Abu Ali, a north Gaza resident said, “They are asking people’s help because they are unable to get to their hostages because of the resistance.” He further added that end the war, [Prime Minister of Israel] Netanyahu, and get your people back. In the November truce over 100 hostages were freed who were seized by Hamas. According to Israel, 132 remain in Gaza, and out of them, almost 27 have been killed in captivity.
The families of hostages camped outside the residence of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, in the coastal city of Caesarea. Eli Stivi, who is a family member of a hostage being held in Gaza said that the Prime Minister of Israel needed to choose one [deal] and end the hostage saga. The son of Eli Stivi, Idan is being held unapproachable in Gaza. On the other hand, the militants and residents said that in northern Gaza, the Palestinian fighters battled tanks were trying to drive back into the eastern suburbs of the Jabalia area. This is the area where Israel had begun pulling out troops and shifting to small-scale operations.
According to Israel, the fighters of Hamas operate from in and around hospitals that also includes Nasser Hospital, which is now the largest functioning hospital in Gaza. However, the Hamas and medical staff denied this information. The residents said that at nightfall the planes of Israel and tanks too intensified their bombardment in Jabalia on the northern edge of Gaza and in Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.
When an Israeli air strike hit a house in Jabalia, five people were killed, said the health officials. In Rafah the doctors also stated that around four individuals were killed and others were injured when an Israeli air strike took place in the middle of Rafah city, hitting a car. Reports were being checked said the Israeli military.